Compulsory voting

Should voting be mandatory? Is voting mandatory? What does compulsatory mean? One of the most well-known compulsory voting systems is in Australia. All Australian citizens over the age of (except those of unsound mind or those convicted of serious crimes) must be registered to vote and show up at their polling place on election day.

Australians who do not show up are subject to fines, although those who were ill or otherwise incapable of voting on election day can have their fines waived.

The concept of compulsory voting reflects a strain in democratic theory in which voting is considered not merely a right but a duty. There are also examples of countries such as Venezuela and the Netherlands which at one time in their history practiced compulsory voting but have since abolished it. Compulsory voting is not a new concept. Arguments for compulsory voting.

The state imposes a range of other requirements such as the duty for parents to see that their children are educated and the duty to wear seat belts. Those who do not bother to take an interest in politics are freeloading on those citizens who do take this seriously. Only a few governments around the world impose compulsory voting or mandatory voting. These governments want to ensure high turnout of votes, promote voter awareness, and enhance democracy.

On the other han making voting mandatory and even imposing penalties for not voting may be deemed as contradictory to freedom.

For example, countries with Spanish heritage are relatively likely to make voting mandatory. Many jurisdictions would allow for pre-poll voting , mail-in ballots, and officials would likely visit hospitals, nursing facilities, and even military bases to make sure that every vote is counted. While compulsory voting may mask the symptoms, it isn’t a cure for the disease.

It will also prevent political leaders to claim greater legitimacy. The real problem is members of the public not wanting to vote. The decrease in turnout at elections has led to calls for a debate about introducing compulsory voting in the United Kingdom. It Becomes Part Of Each Citizen’s Civic Duty. The Majority Will Of the People Can Be Followed.

Because a majority of the voters are turning out to cast ballots,. There are currently countries with compulsory voting around the world. Increase Voter Turnout. It is not democracy if there is only percent of voter turnout. It Broadens Representation And Legitimacy.

If only half of the. Lessen The Need For Large. Voter apathy or lack of interest is often cited as a cause of low turnout among eligible voters in jurisdictions where voting is optional, and the donkey vote where voting is compulsory. Voter fatigue describes a possible cause of voter apathy: elections that are held too frequently.

Donkey votes are most common where preference voting is combined with compulsory voting , such as in Australia, particularly where all candidates must be ranked on the ballot paper.

Many consider it a step in the right direction for US democracy, pointing to Australia as an example of where it has traditionally worked well. A democracy is based on the principle of respecting basic human freedoms, such as free choice. This principle is directly violated by compulsory voting , as people do not have the right to choose not to express their view (should they have any). Registering to vote is slightly different - under a. In total, nations have made voting in a general election a legal obligation for all citizens of voting age.

In fact, some of these governments even “enforce” the law, with penalties and fines in. Most British people () would support making it compulsory for everyone to vote in general elections, with majority support reaching across all the political parties. YouGov research in America found a completely different picture, with opposedto compulsory voting. The law is only that you have to place a collected piece of paper into an envelope or box. Vote pairing occurs when two people commit to voting in a mutually agreed upon manner.

Vote swapping is a common example of vote pairing, where a voter in one district agrees to vote tactically for a less-preferred candidate or party who has a greater chance of winning in their district, in exchange for a voter from another district voting tactically for the candidate the first voter prefers. In the United States, as the majority of elections are conducted under the first-past-the-post system, legal electoral thresholds do not apply in the actual voting. However, several states have threshold requirements for parties to obtain automatic ballot access to the next general election without having to submit voter-signed petitions.